(1) Isn't Halloween by virtue of its name (All Hallow's Eve) and history "affiliated" with Xianity, not to mention the pagan rituals that came before it?

(2) as Erik already said, there's already quite a few holidays that are non-religious, even in this country. I'll just hit the ones that are regularly observed by non-governmental bodies: Thanksgiving, Independence Day, New Years Day, etc.

(3) then again, as Erik also mentions, there's context in particular we should consider. Perhaps your student specifically means "Holy Day" (in either an amazingly pedantic etymological sense, or in a similarly pedantic religious sense).

but what do I think? I'd say that holidays can certainly exist without religious affiliation.

Your correct Alex. About Halloween I mean. Long ago people celebrated all hallow's eve as a pagan day of the dead and it got high jacked, just like x-mas (winter solstice). At least I think I'm remembering correctly. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) Though you won't find many theists to agree, even Easter has a pagan start. One source- http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

Alas, we make holidays at the drop of a hat these days. Not that I'm complaining. It's about time we had some holidays NOT based on religion but on people of accomplishment.

Hallowe'en originated from Samhain, the harvest festival and Celtic New Year, when people would replenish their hearth-fires with coals taken from the communal bonfire and carried home in hollowed-out turnips.

Try reading Alexander's post again. He didn't say Independence Day was not observed by the government. He said, "observed by non-governmental bodies". Do you see the difference there? Additionally, Alexander also never said that he gives a shit about what anyone else believes.

Are you trying to test our recognition of informal logical fallacies or something? I think you've pretty much hit on all of them in three posts.

Godfried seems to be ranting about some debate going on entirely in his own head. What he's posting seems to have only minimal relation to the topic at hand. Perhaps he's using the name Godfried because god has fried his brain?